Jedara Bale

Jedara Bale (pronunciation^ⓘ transl. Spider's web) is a 1968 Indian Kannada-language spy thriller written and directed by the duo Dorai–Bhagavan. It stars Rajkumar in the lead role, alongside Jayanthi, K. S. Ashwath, Narasimharaju, and Udayakumar. The music for the film was composed by G. K. Venkatesh. The film is the first installment in the CID 999 franchise, which went on to include three sequels: Goa Dalli CID 999 (1968), Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 (1969), and Operation Diamond Racket (1978). The CID 999 franchise is notable as the first Indian film series to consist of four installments.

The film is regarded as one of the earliest Indian productions to adopt the James Bond-style spy thriller genre. Rajkumar's portrayal of CID 999 made him one of the first Indian actors to take on a character inspired by James Bond in a leading role. Bhagavan reportedly studied 11 James Bond novels before creating the film. Produced on a modest budget of under ₹3 lakh, the film recovered ₹2 lakh from the sale of dubbing rights alone. It also introduced cabaret dance sequences to South Indian cinema.

Jedara Bale and its subsequent installments played a significant role in shaping Kannada cinema. The franchise's success inspired similar spy thrillers in other South Indian languages. Critics have praised the film for its engaging plot and effective suspense, which have been noted to hold their appeal even decades after its release. In 2020, Film Companion highlighted its narrative-driven approach as a defining aspect. The film also contributed to Rajkumar's stardom and is credited with bringing a shift in the cinematic trends of Kannada films. It was the first character based trilogy in India.